Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Ten down, ten to go

Eric Soderquist, former Hood Canal Bridge Project Director and the greatest mentor I ever have had in life, said often about work planning and execution, "Go slow so you can go fast." Obviously the team listened. The hard work from yesterday is paying off today. We took time to get draw span adjustments completed on Monday and Tuesday in order to help ensure the 20 cycle tests would go well once we started today.

Completing 10 cycles is great news but there is still a chance we have to start back at zero. When we did this same test in Seattle, we completed 12 cycles then had to start back at the beginning so don't hold your breath yet...

25 comments:

Anonymous
said...

This is an outstanding blog with excellent, accurate info. The whole project has been done skillfully and accurately--I have seen the site twice and have ridden the passenger ferry to Seattle and back and have been equally impressed. Good Job!

I have been watching the still shots of the bridge for the past 9 days. Thanks for finally putting a link to video on the website! The video is really impressive. The bridge goes back and forth now. Great job for making the bridge go back and forth! This is such a wonderful blog.

How long does one complete open and close test cycle take? Is there a specific period to wait between cycles, and, if so, how long is that? The whole project is just enormously impressive, as is the communications effort.

Thanks to all the WORKERS. we just might have one hell of a summer with loads of tourists coming and going to see the new bridge and the local economy might just get a little boost for all the efforts by so many folks.............again, thanks to all the bridge workers for such a fine outstanding job......

I have ridden the passenger ferry 63 times during the bridge closure. What wonderful, skillful, accurate, intelligent staff they employ! The ferry is so comfortable and pleasant, just like the Metro buses in Seattle. I kind of hope the bridge doesn't open. It is so much nicer riding the ferry.

Thank you Gov. Gregoire for getting this bridge open ahead of schedule. Who knows when these guys would finally get around to finishing this project if you hadn't of been there making sure the work was getting done. Yeah Chris!

our governer did nothing to build, so please stop giving her credit, did she ever stop by to see the work in progress?? Great work and thanks to the guys ans gals that have worked so hard to get the bridge done.

.sigh. Home now. I got to visit with fellow commuters. What an eclectic group of people we are! I don't think that we Jefferson County people are whiny or angry. Generally speaking, we accepted the inconvenience and dealt with it. It's amusing to me that the only major "face to face" complaints I've heard were from the weekend warriors who have braved this commute only several times. I adore reading all of the bloggers' posts and respect everyone's opinion. I would like to see the credit go to the workers on the bridge who may well be laid off for an undetermined amount of time once all is said and done. Of course, irwinJ, the DOT ferry guys and the Starliner and Jeff. Co. bus drivers too. What a strange trip this has been. (Thanks Jerry Garcia)

As one of Governor Gregoire's drivers, I can say we have been over to see the progress on the Hood Canal Bridge several times. Personally, I am very impressed with the work being done. Those workers seem to have ample time to discuss the progress they have make over the last month. I can't say I disagree. Great job workers!!!

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